Lightning News

By the Numbers: Benoit Pouliot

Fast Facts

Drafted in the first round, 4th overall, by the Minnesota Wild at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft

His rights were acquired by the Lightning from the Boston Bruins in exchange for minor-leaguer Michel Ouellet and a fifth-round selection at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on June 23, 2012

Was previously coached by Bolts bench boss Guy Boucher in Hamilton of the American Hockey League, where he was teammates with current Lightning forwards JT Wyman and Tom Pyatt

Appeared alongside current Lightning defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron as a member of the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Tied for second on the Bruins during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs for takeaways with four

By The Numbers:

Benoit Pouliot scored five game-winning goals for Boston last season

1:04 — Average power-play time on ice per game, which ranked in the top 10 among Bruins forwards throughout the 2011-12 regular season. It also marked his highest total since logging an average of 1:55 during the 2009-10 campaign while splitting time with both the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild.

4 — Multi-point efforts put together by Pouliot in 2011-12, including two occasions in which he recorded three points in a single game, tying a career-best. 5 —Game-winning goals scored by Pouliot in 2011-12, a new personal NHL single-season career-high. Pouliot ranked third on the Bruins last season in this category, coming in behind only Tyler Seguin and Chris Kelly, potting the game-deciding tallies on November 15, November 30, December 5, December 17 and March 27.16 —Goals from Pouliot this past season, which came one off tying his NHL single-season career-high total of 17 set in 2009-10. 18 — Pouliot's plus/minus rating in 2011-12, which was good for eighth on the Bruins during the regular season and which also marked a career-best. It was also 10 better than his previous career-high mark of +8 which he achieved during the 2009-10 season. 32 — Points recorded by Pouliot in 2011-12, a new personal NHL single-season career-high. Over half of those, 17 to be exact, came on home ice, which this upcoming season, could help the Bolts improve upon their already good standing as one of the strongest teams in the league at home.37 — Takeaways registered by Pouliot this past season, which was fourth on the Bruins during the regular season. Tampa Bay should equally benefit as Boston did last season from Pouliot's solid two-way play, which makes him reliable at both ends.97 — Hits dished out by Pouliot in 2011-12, which ranked eighth on the Bruins last season and also displays the forward's grit to go along with his goal-scoring ability.